Preemies: Risk of High Blood Pressure?

Nov. 21, 2005 -- Premature baby boys may be more likely to have high blood
pressure as young adults, a Swedish study shows.

If confirmed, the finding may mean it's a good idea to routinely track blood
pressure in premature babies, write the researchers.

They included Stefan Johansson, MD, of Sweden's Karolinska Institute.
Johansson is a neonatologist -- a specialist in caring for newborns.

The study appears in Circulation.

Early Birth and Blood Pressure

Johansson's team checked the birth records and blood pressure of more than
329,000 young Swedish men when the men were drafted for Sweden's military. Many
of the men had high blood pressure.

Take systolic blood pressure, for example. That's the first number in a
blood pressure reading when the heart pumps blood out. Elevation in blood
pressure makes the heart work harder and increases the risk of heart attacks
and heart failure. High blood pressure also increases the risk of diseases such
as kidney disease, stroke, and eye damage.

One in five men had high systolic blood pressure, the study shows. Those who
had been born early were more likely to be in that group.

The earlier the men had been born, the greater their odds of having high
systolic blood pressure.

Men who had been born extremely early (24-28 weeks) were nearly twice as
likely to have high systolic blood pressure as young adults, compared with
those who had been born at full term (37-41 weeks).

Patterns weren't as strong for preterm birth and diastolic blood pressure
(the second number in a blood pressure reading).

Reasons Unclear

The study doesn't explain why premature babies might be more likely to have
blood pressure later in life.

Social class, maternal factors, and health around the time of birth were
taken into account.

No women were studied, so the results might not extend to baby girls, the
researchers note.